When people consider treatment for substance use disorder (SUD), a common challenge that they may face is finding someone to care for their pets while they are away. Some who seek long-term care may hesitate if they are forced to choose between taking care of a beloved, supportive animal or taking care of themselves, creating a barrier to treatment. Nationwide, new initiatives have arisen to assist with pet care while people are in treatment. These programs often provide important reassurance to individuals seeking treatment that their pets will be taken care of while they are taking care of themselves. Many pet fostering volunteers have lived experience with SUD and treatment, and working with animals can be helpful for their own recovery.

Some pet care programs operate in rehabilitation and treatment centers. These pet-friendly facilities allow patients to receive treatment while their pet lives with them on-site. The animals’ presence creates a familiar, comforting environment that often reduces the stress of treatment. Studies have shown that pets reduce feelings of isolation and encourage a sense of community, and when they are in communal centers, they not only interact with their owner but with other patients and each other, creating a relaxed and collegial atmosphere.

These programs play an important role in supporting the recovery process, both by reducing the barriers for seeking treatment in the first place and making it easier to continue when treatment is in process. Some specific pet-friendly programs include: (1) SPCA International’s PAWsitive Recovery that offers temporary pet foster care for individuals seeking treatment and animal focused workshops in treatment centers and shelters; (2) Orange County, California’s Harmony Junction Recovery that allows clients to bring their pets with them to the facility; (3) Spark Ministries in Madison County, Kentucky that searches for foster families to take care of the pets of people while they are in treatment; and (4) Foster Dogs, with a website that enables people to find foster care and pet-friendly rehab facilities.